Car-replacer.



P. K. BRUCE.

GAR RBPLAGER.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1912.

1,1 12,51 9. Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHQTO-LIIHQ. \IASHINGTON. D. C,

UNITED STATES FRANK K. BRUCE, or DBIETO'N, ALABAMA.

can-anemone.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'flctyfi, 1914.

Application filed January 29, 1912. Serial No. 674,074.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. BRUCE, citizen of the United States, residing at Drifton, in the county of alker and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Replacers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car replacers for use in connection with railway rolling stock, and has for its main object to provide a simple, durable and efficient device of this kind which may be used in replacing cars at various distances from the track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a replacer adapted to be secured to the track rails and which may be adjusted to en gage wheels at various depths below the track level.

A further object is to provide a car replacing device capable of being adjusted to fit both standard and narrow gage tracks.

A still further object is to provide a car replacer constructed in sections so as to adapt the replacer to engage car wheels at different distances from the track.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, it being understood that changes in form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and accom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the device operatively connected to a track rail; Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of an extra section to lengthen the replacer; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the replacer in operative relation to a track; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of a pair of the replacers connected so as to be adjustable to narrow and standard gage tracks; and, Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The device comprises two members arrtnged in parallel relation so that in use a member will be connected with each track rail. Each member embodies three or more sections including a point 1, an inclined plane or terminal section 2, an intermediate body section 3, and when desired, extra body sections t, to lengthen the device. The point 1 is adapted to engage the track rail and is formed with a broad base 5 which rests on the rail base and substantially conforms in cross section to the shape of the rail on one side thereof so that the point may fit snugly against the rail and be held in secure engagement therewith, The upper face of the point constitutes a tread portion 6 tapered toward its free end 7 and adapted to guide the car wheels to the track rail.

in order to hold the tread portion 6 in contact with the track rail, said tread portion is provided intermediate its ends with a laterally extending hook or arm 8 adapted to hook over the rail tread, the lateral edges of said hook being gradually sloped to the face of the tread portion 6, as best shown in Fig. 3, so as to offer practically no material obstruction to passing wheels. The broad end 10 of the point 1 is provided with a horizontally disposed tongue 11 which fits into a corresponding socket 12 on one end of the intermediate body section 3, said tongue being secured therein by a vertically disposed pivot pin 13 which thus permits lateral movement of the intermediate section.

The intermediate section 3 is constructed in cross section substantially in the form of an ordinary rail, with the exception that the under side thereof is provided with a longitudinal slot 14: which materially lessens the weight of said section. The other end 15 of the intermediate section is formed with a relatively short transverse tongue or eX- tension 16, the upper face 17 thereof being adapted to engage and partially support a lip 18 which is formed on the inner end of the terminal section 2, there being connecting plates or links 19 rigidly secured to each side of the intermediate section 3 within the web thereof, said plates being pivotally connected to the terminal sect-ion 2 by a transverse pin 20, thus permitting vertical movement of said terminal section.

It is of course to be understood that the terminal section 2 is in cross section similar to the intermediate section 3-, thus permitting the connecting links or plates 19 to be attached to and against the web thereof. The upper face 21 of the terminal section constitutes a tread portion which is inclined toward the free end thereof as at 22, thus forming a gradual ascent for car wheels from the ground to the tread surface of the intermediate section 3.

ll hen it is desired to lengthen the device and thus increase its field of operation, an extra section 4L- adapted to mate with the terminal section 2 and the intermediate body section 3, may be inserted between the last mentioned sections and connected thereto in a suitable manner, for instance, by connecting plates similar to the plates 19, as will be readily understood. The extension member 4: is of the same cross sectional form as the section 3, and it is constructed at one end with a lip 26 adapted to extend partly over the tongue 16 of the section 3, while its opposite end is constructed with projecting tongue 27 adapted to extend under and partly support the lip on the terminal men her 2, or another enter sion member 4 may, in like manner, be connected thereto.

In the operation of the device the point 1 is secured to a rail by the hook 8, the pivoted connection between said point and the intermediate section 8, allowing the device to be placed in alin ment with a displaced car wheel and the pivoted terminal section 2, capable of vertical movement, permitting the placing of the tree, inclined end of said terminal section in the same plane with said wheel. The device is thus in a position to allow the wheel to be drawn. thereon, to guide the wheel up the inclined face of the hook 8 and thence onto the track rail. It is to be understood that a similar device is attached to the other track rail and acts simultaneously and in a like manner upon the other wheel of the car.

Should both car wheels be off on the same side of the track, both replacing members may then be connected through their respeetive hoolrs 8 to the adjacent rail, thereby making it possible to convey the wheel which rides the tar rail over the intervening rail. ll hen the device is used in this manner, a sectional bar is attached to the web of each intermediate section 3 and thus secures the two members in their proper spaced relation, there being a turnbuckle 241 c0nnecting the sections or" said bar, making it possible to adjust the members to suit either standard or narrow gage tracks.

Attention is here called to the fact that each section of the replacer is provided with a tread portion so that when the device is assembled and opcratively connected to a track rail, a continuous tread surface is es tablished from the terminal section to the track rail. It will also be noted that the point 1 is cut away on its underside to form recesses which permit the device to fit snugly to the rail base regardless of the heads of intervening spikes which are accommodated within said recesses.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A car replacer comprising pivotally connected point, intermediate and terminal sections, the point section being provided with means for engaging a track rail and the terminal section being provided with an inclined tread surface, means for preventing vertical movement of the point section, and means for preventing lateral movement of the terminal section.

2. A car replacer comprising pivotally connected point, terminal and intermediate sections, one end. of the intermediate section being provided with a tongue adapted to engage a lip on the end of the terminal section, connecting plates spanning the junction of the tongue and lip connection and uniting the sections, and means carried by the point section for engagement with a track rail.

A. car replacer consisting of a point member adapted to bear against the side of a track rail and having a lower portion adapted to extend under the tread of the rail and bear against the base thereof, an intermediate section pivoted to said point memher to have relative horizontal movement, a terminal member, and connecting links secured rigidly to the Sides of the intermediate member and pivoted to the sides of the ten minal member whereby said terminal member may have vertical movement.

In testimony whereof I Ellllli my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANl K. BRUCE. [L.S.]

Vfitnesses A. l GARMIOHAEL, A. C. Bacon.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I C. 

